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AN ACT
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relating to military-connected students, including providing a |
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designation for certain school district campuses that take actions |
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to assist those students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 25.006(d), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) In this section, "military-connected student" means a |
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student enrolled in a school district or open-enrollment charter |
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school who: |
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(1) is a dependent of a current or former member of: |
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(A) [(1)] the United States military [serving in
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the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard on active
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duty]; |
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(B) [(2)] the Texas National Guard; or |
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(C) [(3)] a reserve force of the United States |
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military; or |
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(2) was a dependent of a member of a military or |
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reserve force described by Subdivision (1) who was killed in the |
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line of duty. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 33, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 33.909 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.909. PURPLE STAR CAMPUS. (a) In this section, |
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"military-connected student" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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25.006. |
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(b) The agency shall designate a school district campus as a |
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Purple Star Campus if the campus applies and qualifies for the |
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designation under this section. |
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(c) To qualify as a Purple Star Campus, a campus must: |
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(1) designate a staff member as a military liaison, |
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whose duties include: |
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(A) identifying military-connected students |
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enrolled at the campus through the Public Education Information |
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Management System (PEIMS); |
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(B) serving as the point of contact between the |
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campus and military-connected students and their families; |
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(C) determining appropriate campus services |
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available to military-connected students; and |
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(D) assisting in coordinating campus programs |
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relevant to military-connected students; |
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(2) maintain on the campus Internet website an easily |
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accessible web page that includes resources for military-connected |
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students and their families, including information regarding: |
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(A) relocation to, enrollment at, registration |
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at, and transferring records to the campus; |
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(B) academic planning, course sequences, and |
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advanced classes available at the campus; |
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(C) counseling and other support services |
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available for military-connected students enrolled at the campus; |
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and |
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(D) the military liaison designated under |
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Subdivision (1) and the liaison's duties under that subdivision; |
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(3) maintain a transition program led by students, |
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where appropriate, that assists military-connected students in |
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transitioning into the campus; |
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(4) offer professional development for staff members |
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on issues related to military-connected students; and |
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(5) offer at least one of the following initiatives: |
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(A) a resolution showing support for |
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military-connected students and their families; |
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(B) recognition of the Month of the Military |
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Child or Military Family Month with relevant events hosted by the |
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campus; or |
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(C) a partnership with a local military |
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installation that provides opportunities for active duty military |
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members to volunteer at the campus, speak at an assembly, or host a |
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field trip. |
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(d) To comply with a requirement under Subsection (c)(2), |
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(4), or (5), a school district campus may partner with the district |
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to provide: |
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(1) an Internet website web page required under |
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Subsection (c)(2) if the campus does not have an Internet website; |
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(2) professional development required under |
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Subsection (c)(4); or |
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(3) an initiative required under Subsection (c)(5). |
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(e) The agency shall adopt rules as necessary to administer |
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this section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1557 passed the Senate on |
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April 11, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1557 passed the House on |
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May 14, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 1, two |
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present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |